KEY POINTS
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Mali’s forces and Russian partners reportedly killed 94 civilians in drone strikes between April and August.
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HRW cited attacks on a cattle market and a health centre, alongside other alleged abuses.
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JNIM and Tuareg-led separatists were also accused of abuses, including the execution of 19 soldiers.
Mali’s armed forces and their Russian allies have killed scores of civilians in drone strikes and other military operations during an intensified campaign against insurgents, according to a new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW).
The report, published on Monday, October 19, 2026, documented what the rights group described as apparently indiscriminate drone attacks, alongside other alleged abuses by government forces and Russian personnel supporting them.
Data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project (ACLED), cited by HRW, showed that drone strikes attributed to Mali’s military and Russia’s Africa Corps killed 94 civilians between April and August 2026.
The figures represent a sharp increase from the same period in 2025, when 22 drone strikes reportedly killed 44 civilians.
The findings come as Mali’s military-led government struggles to contain armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and Tuareg-led separatists, despite deepening security cooperation with Russia.
Drone strikes intensify after April attacks
The increase in drone strikes followed a wave of coordinated attacks launched on April 25 by Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-linked militant group, and Tuareg-led separatists.
The attacks targeted military installations and several towns and cities, including locations in the capital, Bamako, and its main airport. Mali’s defence minister was also killed in the violence.
The attacks exposed continuing security challenges for the authorities, who have relied increasingly on Russian support to combat insurgents and separatist forces.
Mali’s military leaders seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021 before strengthening military ties with Moscow. The government subsequently enlisted Russia’s Africa Corps to support its response to the renewed insurgent offensive.
However, HRW’s findings raise concerns about the impact of the counterinsurgency campaign on civilians living in affected areas.
Market and health centre reportedly hit
Human Rights Watch documented several drone attacks that it said appeared to have failed to distinguish adequately between military targets and civilians.
One incident occurred on August 19 in the Bandiagara region of central Mali, where a drone strike on a cattle market reportedly killed six men.
Another attack took place before dawn on July 29 at a health centre in the northern Kidal region, near the Algerian border.
The report also documented alleged abuses involving ground forces. On July 12, soldiers in the Ségou region reportedly shot and killed five young girls after mistaking them for attackers.
The incidents add to concerns about civilian protection as military operations intensify across the country.
An army spokesperson did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment. HRW said it had also received no response to a letter sent on August 5 to Mali’s defence minister outlining its findings.
Mali has previously denied killing civilians during counterinsurgency operations, while the Russian embassy in Bamako had not immediately commented on the reported involvement of Africa Corps.
Insurgent groups also accused of abuses
The Human Rights Watch report also documented alleged abuses by JNIM and Tuareg-led separatists.
Among the incidents was the reported execution of 19 soldiers in the northern Gao region in July.
JNIM’s Sharia Committee acknowledged to HRW that the killings had occurred but denied ordering them, saying such acts were not its policy.
The Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front also denied executing soldiers.
The allegations highlight the risks faced by civilians and military personnel amid the continuing conflict, in which armed groups and government forces have both been accused of serious abuses.
Mali faces mounting security challenges
The findings underscore the difficulty Mali’s military authorities face in restoring security despite their reliance on Russian assistance and increasingly intensive military operations.
The country remains affected by attacks from jihadist groups and separatist forces, particularly in northern and central regions.
The rise in reported civilian deaths from drone strikes has also intensified concerns about the methods used in the military campaign and the need to protect people who are not taking part in the fighting.
Human Rights Watch’s report adds to scrutiny of both Mali’s armed forces and their Russian partners, as well as the conduct of insurgent groups operating across the country.
